“A Revolutionary Step In Making Our Marines More Lethal”
Stafford VA (SPX) Nov 05, 2007:
Raytheon will partner with the Marine Corps Systems Command as the primary integrator for a human factors laboratory facility that will study potential improvements in the effectiveness of the equipment Marine squads carry into battle. Located in Stafford and opening on Nov. 1, the facility will be known as the “Gruntworks.” It will analyze the equipment Marine riflemen carry in terms of loading, logistics, human factors and combat effectiveness with a view toward making changes that increase efficiency, personal protection and survivability.
“This is a revolutionary step in making our ground Marines more agile, lethal, and survivable,” said Lt. Gen. Jim Amos, commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. “This capability will increase our ability to protect Marines in the future.”
Raytheon will act as the systems integrator for this first-ever Marine infantry laboratory facility, working closely with the program management office for the Marine Expeditionary Squad, which will provide an overall systems approach and oversight to the work done with the squad equipment.
At the Gruntworks, the Marine Corps will evaluate the best industry, government, academic, and foreign solutions offered. From there it will determine through simulation and human systems integration and modeling if new technology can be integrated into the squad equipment set to make it more effective and more reliable in future versions.
Diagnostic equipment available at the Gruntworks will include vehicle and aircraft mock ups for use in analyzing the amount of individual equipment Marines bring in ground and air transports. Additionally, the Office of Naval Research will fund a virtual training facility at the Gruntworks called the Immersive Infantry Trainer. This capability will allow Marines and laboratory personnel to test equipment in a virtual, combat-like environment.
Raytheon has two partners providing critical support to the effort. They will provide the Marines with on-site integration, modeling and simulation for the development of the squad systems.
Wesco, a Helena, Mont.-based information technology company, is providing services and developing a knowledge management system tailored to the Marine Corps and the Gruntworks facility so that critical data collection is captured, archived and available in a user-friendly computer system.
Humansystems is an Ontario, Canada-based human factors consulting firm that will provide expertise in human performance integration and testing that is based on years of support to the Canadian and U.S. militaries.
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Lethal Marines? Hmm, that could be good or bad
November 5th, 2007 at 3:23 amI’ts about time that the Marine Corp get this type of direct attention
November 5th, 2007 at 5:40 amThe Marines always got the short end of the stick on military budget, about time!
November 5th, 2007 at 6:06 amThe job of all Marines is to kill the enemy and break things. Anything that increases a Marine’s lethality in combat is going to save the lives of fellow Marines.
Check out the automatic grenade launcher. That’s WAY better than a single-shot .203. Increasing lethality and firepower at the squad and platoon level is the name of the game.
The civilian engineering community has been hard at work helping and supporting the warfighter for a long time. The tools and technologies are constantly evolving into better and better warfighter products.
In the final analysis, these technologies will help bring more Marines home from whatever battle-space that they find themselves in. And if just one of these new products or technologies saves one more Marine’s life, then it is money well-spent.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:47 amMarines get shorted on the budget, but they don’t have to maintain the logistical tail either.
The marines are always coming up with kick-_ss projects like this, I am jealous, when is the army going to start getting on board with this kind of stuff. The marine focus on infantry is so key to their success in modern warfare. The Army focuses too much on the technology itself. The marines focus on the soldier, and ask how the technology can be made to fit him.
November 5th, 2007 at 11:02 amD_Mac
Marines are NOT SOLDIERS……..They ARE MARINES!!!!
Dan
November 5th, 2007 at 2:30 pmAny way that you can make it easier to kill bad guys and break their stuff and the Marines will be all over it….like Barry Bonds and Vitamin b12 shots!
I apologize for changing the subject but I am looking for someone to answer some questions i have as i am about to ship for the USMC 03xx….anyone care to help. (former or current Marines only please)
November 5th, 2007 at 6:36 pm